Sydney Roosters were far too strong for an injury-hit New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday, cruising to a crushing 32-0 victory against a team that had only lost one previous game this season.
The Roosters ran in five tries to none to record their sixth win of the season against a Warriors squad that was missing Shaun Johnson and Issac Luke, which completely neutralised their attacking threat.
The Roosters, well led by captain Boyd Cordner, and with Dylan Napa also having a big game in their forwards, also had threats in the backs, with Latrell Mitchell, James Tedesco and Luke Keary in top form.
After an early penalty kicked by Mitchell, Ryan Matterson scored for a try created by Cooper Cronk, while Joseph Manu scored their second just before the interval, with Mitchell’s goals giving the Roosters a 14-0 half-time lead.
When Blake Ferguson scored after just two minutes of the second half, it was obvious there would be no way back for the Warriors, and the Roosters would score two more tries by Tedesco and Isaac Liu to complete a thoroughly miserable afternoon for the Warriors supporters.
Warriors: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 David Fusitu’a, 3 Peta Hiku, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Blake Green, 7 Mason Lino, 8 Bunty Afoa, 14 Karl Lawton, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 16 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Adam Blair; Interchange: 11 Simon Mannering, 15 Sam Lisone, 17 James Gavet, 20 Jazz Tevaga
Roosters: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Joseph Manu, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Mitchell Aubusson, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 9 Jake Friend, 10 Dylan Napa, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Ryan Matterson, 13 Isaac Liu; Interchange: 14 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Kurt Baptiste, 18 Nat Butcher
Tries: Matterson, Manu, Ferguson, Tedesco, Liu; Goals: Mitchell 6
Full match reports of all this weekend’s NRL games will feature in Monday’s League Express.
